Political notes from Free Press staff writers Terri Hallenbeck, Sam Hemingway and Nancy Remsen
3.17.2010
Another gubernatorial forum
If you are looking for a chance to compare and contrast gubernatorial candidates -- at least the five Democratic candidates -- there's a forum planned for Monday in South Burlington.
The Vermont Council of Developmental and Mental Health Services has scheduled a forum for 5-7 p.m. at South Burlington High School. It's free and open to the public.
"The future of mental health, developmental services and substance abuse treatment will be greatly impacted by decisions made by the next governor," said Ken Libertoff, director of the Vermont Association for Mental Health.
Todd Centybear, executive director of HowardCenter, added, "The public needs to know what set of values the new governor will use when facing difficult choices."
All the announced candidates for governor were invited, the sponsors said. The five Democrats -- Sen. Susan Bartlett, former Sen. Matt Dunne, Secretary of State Deb Markowitz, Sen. Doug Racine and Sen. Peter Shumlin -- accepted the invitation. Lt. Gov.Brian Dubie, the Republican candidate, hasn't participated in any early forums and isn't expected at this one.
Lots of comments have come in on the math surrounding Brian Dubie's birthday bash campaign fundraiser on Tuesday.
Here's the explanation.
He had 430 people come to the party. The charge to enter was $51 per head, in recognition of his new age.
However, people could choose to help "sponsor" the event by giving much more. There were four sponsorship levels between the maximum contribution allowed for the year -- $2000 and $250. More than 200 people contributed at one of the sponsorship levels. As a result, Corry Bliss, campaign manager, reports the total raised was $115,000.
We don't get much information about the fundraising by the gubernatorial candidates and won't see their reports until summer.
Still, Lt. Gov. Brian Dubie, Republican candidate, reports today that his birthday bash Tuesday garnered $115,000 for his campaign.
In an email, his campaign staff report his $51 per head party attracted 430 people.
Dubie commented, "I am truly humbled by last night’s strong show of support for my campaign for governor. When I decided to have a birthday fundraiser I set the goal to raise $30,000 and sell 150 $51 tickets. To raise over $115,000 in one night and have 430 people buy tickets is beyond my expectations."
Let me revise a previous posting. Things went down like this:
An e-mail arrived today from "Host Committee, DebforVermont" announcing a "Campaign Kick Off Party" for Deb Markowitz, Democratic candidate for governor. It would be held at 6 p.m. March 9 at Coffee Enterprises in Burlington. Recipients of the e-mail were being asked to save the date. A long list of names was given as hosts of the party. Prices were listed in coffee terms from $100 for "tall cup" up to $1,000 for host.
I posted a blog item about this and noted it was at the exact same time as an event Republican gubernatorial candidate Brian Dubie was holding for his 51st birthday for a donation of $51 per person. (An e-mail about that had arrived earlier in the week and I hadn't gotten around to noting it, so this seemed like an opportune time.)
This prompted an e-mail from the Vermont Republican Party criticizing Markowitz for charging for her campaign kickoff event, contending that this put her out of touch with ordinary Vermonters and saying that Dubie's eventual kickoff would be free.
Which prompted an e-mail from Markowitz campaign manager Paul Tencher to me saying I had misunderstood - the Coffee Enterprises event was actually just the end of a two-day campaign kickoff jobs tour for which details would be released next week (it will be in Barre and it's free), though no mention of that was made in the original e-mail (and my chances of guessing that were pretty small).
He followed that with a release criticizing the Vermont Republican Party for an "early political attack."
Republican gubernatorial candidate Brian Dubie now has an updated Web site
One of the current features is a poll in which he asks, “Should the next governor grow state government?”
The options respondents can choose between aren’t exactly neutral. Traditionally choices are listed with the affirmative first, but in this poll, the first choice is “No, time for government to make tough decisions.” The second choice is “Yes, let’s grow government and increase spending.”
The field of gubernatorial aspirants may expand again.
Rodolphe “Skip” Vallee , whose activism in the Republican Party included top party positions and a unsuccessful run for the state senate in 2000, is considering a run for governor.
Republican Lt. Gov. Brian Dubie has already announced his candidacy for the state’s top job. The 2010 race has attracted a lot of interest because Gov. Jim Douglas announced in the summer that he wouldn’t seek re-election.
Five Democrats have announced, too: Sen. Doug Racine of Richmond, Sen. Susan Bartlett of Hyde Park, Secretary of State Deb Markowitz of Montpelier, former Sen. Matt Dunne of Hartford, and Sen. Peter Shumlin of Putney.
Vallee has been on the political sidelines since returning a year ago from a two-year stint as U.S. Ambassador to Slovakia. Just after returning, he said, “I will not be running for anything.” Still, he admits he’s a political junkie and some friends have fed his habit. He’s been encouraged to run. “I went from no way to I’ll think about it,” he said Monday. “Yes, it is something I’m thinking about.”
“I like Brian, I respect him and he has won statewide four times,” Vallee said. Other Republicans who considered running backed off after Dubie announced, but Valle said, “It’s is the people of Vermont who make these sorts of decisions.”
In other words, political parties shouldn't automatically shy away from primary elections. Ideally, Vallee said primaries focus voters’ attention on ideas, not personalities and help the prevailing candidate hone a campaign that can be victorious in November.
“Skip is a friend and he and I have been talking,” Dubie said Monday. “We will keep talking.” Meanwhile, Dubie said, “The best thing I can do is focus on building a campaign.”
As to the pros and cons of a Republican gubernatorial primary, Dubie said, “This is a democracy.”
So when will Vallee decide? “If you are a serious candidate,” he said, “you have to get your act together by the beginning of the year.”
— Nancy Remsen
Here’s what Dubie would have said
It would have been fascinating to watch five Democrats and Republican Brian Dubie interacting at last week’s gubernatorial forum. Dubie, however, couldn’t attend the event for all announced candidates for governor sponsored by the Vermont League of Conservation Voters, but he provided his answers Monday in an email.
He wrote:
“When I travel the state and listen to Vermonters, I hear an overwhelming sense of anxiety and concern for the economy and for job security in our state. We must focus our attention on jobs, the economy, and the sustainability of government. That does not mean we should turn our backs on the environment, but we do need to make sure that our approach to environmental protection is consistent with our economy and supports the needs of our economy. We can grow our economy — and protect our environment at the same time —- if we take a smart, balanced and sustainable approach to both.
• On permit reform : Vermont is competing with other states for jobs. The State of Virginia, for one, guarantees a 48-hour-turnaround permitting. The time and cost of permitting, the uncertainty, and frequently, the court costs associated with Act 250 are driving jobs to other states. We can’t to lose them, or the young Vermonters who will go where the jobs are. We must protect Vermont’s water, air and soil. We must protect what makes Vermont special. And we must do it better, quicker, and at a lower cost. I favor reforming Act 250.
• On water quality : We should continue to make cleaning up Lake Champlain a top priority, and continue to work with our congressional delegation to secure any federal funding that might be available. Lake Champlain and our other lakes and waterways attract millions of dollars to our state every year from tourists, sport fishermen, boaters and others. Along with our neighbors in Quebec and New York, we must continue to work on cleaning them up.
• On housing and conservation : In a year of tough choices, state funding for affordable housing and land conservation will have to be on the table, along with every other appropriation that the state has made in the past. Land conservation has been of great value to Vermont farmers, and has preserved a landscape that brings tourists to our state and makes our quality of life second to none. But with the drastic reduction in revenue we have experienced, it’s imperative that as a state, we first take care of those who need it most: our children, our neighbors and co-workers who live with disabilities, our elders, those who have lost jobs or are living on reduced incomes. It’s imperative that we maintain a safe transportation system. It’s imperative that we keep Vermonters safe from crime. It’s imperative that we are able to respond in times of disaster. For the foreseeable future, we’ll need to keep our priorities clear.
• On Vermont Yankee and wind : As long as Vermont Yankee is operating safely, consistent with Nuclear Regulatory Commission standards, and as long as it continues to yield low-cost, low-carbon power that keeps the lights on in the homes, schools, hospitals, milking parlors and workplaces of Vermont, it is reasonable to relicense the facility to run for another 20 years. I strongly support investing in the development and deployment of in-state renewable energy production. I also have a vision for expanding our clean electricity options by means of strategic transmission. Whether it’s in 2012 or in 2032, Vermont Yankee will close. We should be building our replacement energy capacity today.
More on what the Democrats did say
The forum sponsored by the Vermont League of Conservation Voters provided the first opportunity to see the five Democrats running for governor sitting side-by-side. The event tested each candidates political agility. Could they differentiate themselves while not disparaging their Democratic colleagues?
If you missed the event or want to relive it, you can watch here
• Housing and conservation : All five agreed on the importance of funding the Vermont Housing and Conservation Board, but the competition was fierce to establish credentials for leadership and commitment.
Secretary of State Deb Markowitz , first at bat, had the disadvantage of no legislative record to spotlight to prove her support.
Sen. Susan Bartlett declared herself the foremost champion of the housing and conservation board in the Legislature by virtue of her position as chairwoman of the Senate Appropriations Committee. She also invoked the name of former Gov. Howard Dean, saying he passed the mantel — champion of housing and conservation — to her.
Sen. Doug Racine , in a “top this” move, recounted how he helped write the legislation that established the Housing and Conservation Board in 1987. “What a wonderful program it has been.”
Sen. Peter Shumlin said Bartlett could thank him for being in a position to champion housing and conservation because he made her chairwoman of the powerful Senate Appropriations Committee.
Matt Dunne , a former senator from Windsor now at Google, suggested innovations in land conservation grew from conversations that took place at his father’s kitchen table. He came by his passion for conservation genetically, he said.
• On Vermont Yankee : The state’s aging nuclear power plant didn’t have friends among these candidates, as they weighed in on whether it should be relicensed.
Dunne, alone among the candidates, said the Legislature should vote soon on whether Vermont Yankee should continue to operate after 2012 when its 40-year-license to operate expires. The Legislature has given itself authority to decide the plant’s future.
“Every day that goes by that we are not clear about what we are going to do about Vermont Yankee is simply irresponsible,“ Dunne said.
Shumlin, by contrast, said the Legislature may not be able to vote this winter because lawmakers don’t have enough information. Running over his time limit, Shumlin outlined five concerns: questions about the reliability of the plant, mounting radioactive waste, insufficient guarantees about what will happen once the plant closes, lack of information about the future price of power from the plant, and uneasiness about owner Entergy’s plans to spin the plant off into a smaller company.
“I would vote no today,“ Shumlin said.
Racine said the pending decision was both financial and moral. He charged Entergy has given Vermonters no confidence it can operate the plant safely and he argued its power rates, whatever they turn out to be, would not include hidden costs for future generations.
“I see no reason to continue the operation of Vermont Yankee after 2012. Period,“ Racine said.
Bartlett said she’s asked for one good reason to vote to allow Vermont Yankee to continue to operate — but she hasn’t heard one yet.
Markowitz simply said, “Vermont Yankee is not part of our energy future. Our energy future rests with renewable energy and efficiency.“
— Nancy Remsen and Terri Hallenbeck
Health reform’s prospects
Washingtion D.C. is buzzing about the “second Louisiana Purchase,” the deal Senate Democratic Leader Harry Reid made with Sen. Mary Landrieu of Louisiana to win her support in Saturday night’s procedural vote to allow debate on a health care reform bill to begin.
Is the health care bill careening off the tracks or does it have a political future?
Vermont’s senators offer their perspectives:
• Sen. Patrick Leahy, D-VT : “When the Senate voted Saturday night to end the filibuster and let the debate begin on health insurance reform, it was by the narrowest of margins. When the debate itself begins after Thanksgiving, the way forward will be difficult, no question about it. Some will again say it’s impossible. Pundits have declared health reform dead several times by now. Yet it has advanced farther now than in any attempt in decades. If health reform was easy it would have been done long ago.
Much of what the public “knows” about the bill is inaccurate, fed by distortions, and worse, by defenders of the status quo. The longer this discussion has gone on, the more these myths have been shown up for what they are. So there is hope that support for reform will solidify in the weeks ahead. During the debate the bill also may change in ways the American people want it to change. For instance momentum continues to build for the amendment I will be offering to end health insurance companies’ antitrust exemption.
At its best, the Senate has been able to rise to the occasion to reflect the conscience of the nation. This, I hope, will be one of those times.”
• Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-VT : “This country faces a major health care crisis. With 46 million Americans uninsured, 45,000 dying each year because they don’t get to a doctor when they should, almost 1 million going bankrupt because of medically related bills and health costs scheduled to double within 8 years it is imperative that we pass strong health care legislation that will address these issues.
It is tragic that the disintegration of our health care system was virtually ignored by Bush during his 8 years, while the Congressional Republicans today are playing an obstructionist role by filibustering every piece of major legislation. This leaves the 60 Senators in the Democratic Caucus. It is my intention to do everything I can to see that a strong bill is passed which provides universal coverage in a cost-effective way. This is going to be a very difficult, complicated and contentious process which I hope and believe will, in the final analysis, succeed.”
Speculation ends. Republican Lt. Brian Dubie is in the governor's race.
He duped those who thought he must not be if he's not having an event to announce it. He duped those who thought that my postponing his planned appearance this morning on the Charlie & Ernie radio show until tomorrow that he must not be in.
The e-mail from adviser Susie Hudson this morning:
Montpelier, VT – Vermont Lt. Governor Brian Dubie announced today that he will be a candidate for Governor of the State of Vermont in 2010. Dubie was elected to his fourth term as Vermont’s Lieutenant Governor in November 2008.
Lt. Governor Dubie’s statement comes roughly five weeks following Governor Jim Douglas’ announcement that he would not seek a fifth term.
Dubie said, “I have devoted the past few weeks to cross-checking my thoughts with the thoughts of other Vermonters – thoughts about where we are as a state and about the challenges we face. I have measured my experience and my capabilities against those benchmarks and have taken a long look at how we could lead our state forward through difficult times.”
Restoring jobs, restoring opportunity and restoring financial security are at the core of Lt. Governor Dubie’s agenda. “Every household in Vermont knows that you can’t spend more money than you take in. Our state revenues have fallen precipitously. We need to rebuild our base and work to grow opportunity. We must reject deficits. We need to manage and reduce debt. And finally, we need to rebuild our reserves and work to reduce taxes.”
A recurring theme for the Lieutenant Governor is about finding common ground.
“I tell Vermonters that I’m the middle child in a family of six. My mother raised me to be a moderator, a peacemaker. Today, we need moderation in our state. The skill of bringing people with divergent views together has served me well as Lieutenant Governor. Whoever becomes our next Governor, that person will need the ability to bring people together.”
The Lieutenant Governor said he will make a formal announcement at a later date.
Vtbuzz: on financial disclosure, the latest gubernatorial race news and kicking cans and balls
Vermont ranks last for public disclosure of officials’ financials
While five states recently enhanced their financial disclosure requirements for public officials, a Washington D.C. investigative reporting non-profit identified Vermont and two other states as standing out “somewhat notoriously, for, well, doing nothing.”
Vermont law doesn’t require the governor, other statewide officers or legislators to disclose for public review any personal/professional financial information. The same goes for Michigan and Idaho, but the Center for Public Integrity noted disclosure legislation at least comes up for consideration in Michigan and Idaho. Not so in Vermont.
“I’ve never heard a single Vermonter raise an issue about it,” said Senate Government Operations Chairwoman Jeanette White, D-Windham.
Check out the center’s update and earlier reports on disclosure here.
Paul Burns, executive director of the Vermont Public Interest Research Group, said financial disclosure wasn’t a top priority for his organization, but he agreed that transparency about finances and potential conflicts of interest were legitimate public goals.
Burns recalled the controversy in the 2008 gubernatorial election when Democrat Gaye Symington released incomplete data on family finances, while Republican Gov. Jim Douglas and Progressive Anthony Pollina provided complete tax returns. Burns suggested the state takes a first step toward disclosure by enacting a requirement for all statewide offices.
— Nancy Remsen
Still so many unanswered campaign questions
It’s hard to believe that a year from now, General Election ballots will be on their way to town clerks so early voting can begin. At the moment there are so many unanswered questions about whose names will end up on those ballots.
Take for example, the gubernatorial race, where everyone is waiting and waiting and waiting for Republican Lt. Gov. Brian Dubie to announce whether he’s running or not for the state’s top job.
Will it come this week? “You will hear something this week,” said Susie Hudson, a Dubie political insider.
Meanwhile, Democratic candidates abound. Senate President Pro Tempore Peter Shumlin has just about jumped into the race. He has been crisscrossing the state to talk with movers and shakers about his candidacy compared to the three Democrats with hats already in the ring — Secretary of State Deb Markowitz, Sen. Doug Racine and Sen. Susan Bartlett.
“All of them would be great governors,” Shumlin said Monday. Still he confirmed, “I’m strongly leaning toward running.”
“Vermont needs a governor who has run a business, met a payroll,” he explained. Shumlin and his brother run a student educational travel business.
During Monday’s phone chat, Shumlin launched into what would likely be his campaign theme – “Vermont has to stop plodding along and get a piece of the extraordinary job opportunities as we move off our addiction to oil.”
Shumlin said he isn’t afraid of a free-for-all primary with his Democratic friends. “We have a real opportunity to have a civil discussion about where Vermont should go,” he said of the run up to next year’s Democratic primary election. I think Democrats will be strengthened.”
— Nancy Remsen
Candidate updates
If you are keeping tabs on the announced Democratic gubernatorial candidates, note that Doug Racine just hired Brendan Bush, 29, of Original Gravity Media, Inc., to provide him with some Internet strategy. “Bush will redesign Racine’s campaign Website, develop online outreach materials, and work with field director Amy Shollenberger to add to the campaign’s grassroots outreach strategy.”
Also last week, Deb Markowitz released a second video and launched a spread-the-word campaign. She wants supporters to share the link in the hopes her video could go viral.
Susan Bartlett noted her competitors’ focus on the Internet. “It seems to me there is a made dash right now to get high tech stuff because Matt Dunne might get in,” she said, referring for former Sen. Matt Dunne, who now works for Google. Dunne has confirmed he is weighing whether to join the Democratic crowd running for governor.
Bartlett noted that many Vermonters don’t have high tech Internet connections. “My sense is Vermonters will want a good old-fashioned type campaign.”
Bartlett said she still hasn’t hired staff, although she has volunteers who accompany her as she travels the state. “I’m not in a yank to spend money.”
The trio — Bartlett, Markowitz and Racine — are scheduled to appear together before Shelburne and South Burlington Democrats at 7 p.m. Thursday at the Shelburne Town Office.
They will meet individually at closed sessions with members of the Vermont Business Roundtable beginning next week. Roundtable President Lisa Ventriss said the sessions give members a chance to get acquainted with the candidates, understand why they are seeking “this very difficult job” and hear what strengths they offer. As more candidates jump into the race, additional sessions will be scheduled, Ventriss said.
— Nancy Remsen
Local election news
Denise Barnard, former Democratic representative from Richmond who narrowly lost her bid for a Chittenden Senate seat in 2008, was mysterious about her political future Monday.
“I’m tanned, I’m rested and I’m running in 2010,” Barnard said, “ but I’m not telling you what I’m running for — yet.”
She did confirm she wasn’t running for governor.
She said she expected to go public with her plans soon. “I’m very excited about the future.
Meanwhile, Democrat Philip Baruth of Burlington kicks up his Chittenden Senate campaign at 6 p.m. Tuesday at Nectar’s in downtown Burlington.
— Nancy Remsen
Kicking the can or whatever
Secretary of Administration Neale Lunderville said several times recently that he didn’t want to “kick the can” any longer when it came to making tough decisions about labor expenses. That’s why he, in the final negotiations with the union last week, refused to agree to a plan to cut $7.4 million from the current budget without some commitment from the Vermont State Employees Association on cuts in the next two fiscal years.
Jes Kraus, VSEA director, argued, the union and the administration should kick that can in separate talks about the next two-year contract, talks that are already underway.
Up the road from the state capital where the abortive talks took place, a pair of Democratic legislators focused on kicking the ball.
Reps. Sue Minter and Tom Stevens organized a “Causeball” kickball tournament that was held in the rain Sunday, but still raised $2,300 for local food shelves.
“Anybody can plan kickball,” Minter said.
That brings this entry back to kicking the can. Legislative leaders — particularly Rep. Michael Obuchowski, D-Rockingham — have worked the phones to try to bring the administration and union back to the table to resume talks. What about bringing them to a field and let kickball settle the aforementioned kick-the-can question?
T.J. Donovan's political ambitions require recusal
T. J. Donovan, Chittenden State's attorney, has decided to asked the Addison County State's Attorney to handle the investigation in alleged inappropriate conduct in a locker room by Sen. Ed Flanagan, D-Chittenden.
Donovan is moving the investigation to avoid a conflict of interest. He is pondering a run for lieutenant governor. Months ago Flanagan made public that he was considering a run for lieutenant governor rather than re-election to the state senate.
Flanagan said today he isn't actively running, "but I'm not foreclosing it." His focus from now until spring, he said, is on the business of the next legislative session.
Donovan didn't say he was definitely running, but he intends to explore his potential to become the Democratic nominee for lieutenant governor.
If he's running and Flanagan is running, he said "This circumstance creates a possibility of a conflict between Senator Flanagan and myself. In order to insure the integrity of the process, it is therefore appropriate that an independent review of the allegations occur."
Let's review who else has shown some interest in this office.
There's Rep. David Zuckerman, a Progressive from Burlington who might run as a Democrat to avoid the Progressive/Democratic squabble about who's a spoiler.
Some people mention Matt Dunne, a former Democratic state senator, who ran for lieutenant governor and lost in 2006. Would give it another try or is he only weighing his chances for the state's top job?
There's lots of reported interest on the Republican side of the ledger, assuming the Republican incumbent, Brian Dubie, moves up or on.
Sen. Randy Brock, R-Franklin, might go for it, assuming Dubie runs for governor.
Sen. Kevin Mullin, R-Rutland, said he is considering it.
Mark Snelling, businessman and son of former Gov. Richard Snelling and former Lt. Gov. Barbara Snelling, has considered runs for governor or lieutenant governor --depending on Dubie.
Sen. Phil Scott, R-Washington, has given thought to presiding over the Senate as lieutenant governor, too.
If you were expecting a decision this week from Brian Dubie about whether he's running for governor in 2010, stand down.
Dubie said yesterday it is likely to be at least another full week before he comes forth with his decision.
Dubie is headed to Alaska on Saturday to see how some Vermont-made wind turbines are faring up there in the tundra. After that trip, he said, seems like a good time to announce his plans.
You can read more about the lieutenant governor and his decision in Sunday's Free Press.
Mark Snelling, son of the late Gov. Richard Snelling and former Lt. Gov. Barbara Snelling and brother of Sen. Diane Snelling, R-Chittenden, has felt the lure of political possibility as a result of Gov. Jim Douglas' announcement that he won't seek a fifth term.
Snelling said he's considering a run for either governor or lieutenant governor. Unlike other prospective Republican gubernatorial candidates -- namely Randy Brock and John Bloomer -- Snelling isn't going to defer to the choice that Lt. Gov. Brian Dubie makes about seeking the top job.
Does that mean Snelling is willing to chance a primary?
This Snelling hasn't ever held public office -- no school board or selectboard seat, not even a class presidency in grade school. Still Snelling said he been involved behind the scenes in 10 of his parents' statewide campaigns.
Snelling offered no timetable for his decision. Like everyone else whose imagining themselves in the state's top job, he's talking with people about his potential candidacy.
"I don't think one should dally too much, particularly if the choice was to run for governor."
Tuesday Buzz: on moderates, marriage and a changed political landscape
The monkey wrench in the middle
Gov. Jim Douglas’ announcement last week that he will not seek re-election lit up the phone lines among political aspirants and the people who can help them.
Looking out over the possible new landscape one might wonder whether moderates have a seat at the table. Keep in mind that in recent years, moderates have owned the power to put somebody in the governor’s seat (think Howard Dean, Jim Douglas.
If Lt. Gov. Brian Dubie is the Republican candidate against any one of the Democrats who’ve voiced an interest wins their party’s primary, does that leave moderates nowhere to go?
"It is a concern, naturally," said Sen. Richard Mazza, D-Grand Isle/Chittenden, who is often the man in the middle in the Senate. "One of the things expressed to me by a lot of folks in the store and in the business community is they are looking for someone moderate."
Mazza said he worries that neither Dubie nor some of the Democrats considering a run are the answer.
Charlie Smith, a moderate Republican and former member of Douglas’ cabinet, was not so worried, arguing that Dubie fills the bill. "I view Brian as a moderate and I view myself as a moderate," Smith said.
Mazza, who serves with Dubie on the Senate’s Committee on Committees, disagrees. "Brian Dubie’s a conservative," he said.
Dubie, who is expected to announce soon whether he is running for governor and to whom other Republicans are deferring, has shown conservative stances on social issues, opposing abortion and same-sex marriage. Smith suggested those issues won’t be key in 2010.
"His focus would be on jobs and the economy," Smith said. "I have confidence in his instincts and his values."
John Bloomer Jr., a moderate former Republican state senator who is among those who said he is awaiting Dubie’s decision before making his own, agreed that those issues don’t necessarily close off moderate support for Dubie.
Sen. Phil Scott, R-Washington, whose moderate status earned him a committee chairmanship in the heavily Democratic Senate, put it this way: "He and I may not agree on some issues but he has respect for other opinions and he listens."
Mazza, meanwhile, is worried enough that he’s trying to recruit moderates into the game, including state Treasurer Jeb Spaulding, who has said he would not run.
"Jeb would be a great candidate," Mazza said. "I’m going to talk to him again."
State Auditor Tom Salmon, a Democrat, has made sought to characterize himself as a moderate alternative. Mazza suggested that Salmon has some work ahead of him before is accepted by Democratic brethren.
Three Democrats are already in the race: Sens. Doug Racine and Susan Bartlett and Secretary of State Deb Markowitz, whom Mazza said called seeking his support over the weekend. Senate President Pro Tempore Peter Shumlin has strongly suggested he might join them.
Among those, Mazza said he ranks Shumlin the most moderate, despite Shumlin’s near-warfare-level wrangling with Douglas.
"He understands the business community. He knows the landscape out there," said Mazza, who runs a general store in Colchester. "Can he get elected? That’s another issue."
No matter how you rank candidates, Mazza said Democrats need to get together in a room and sort things out before they grow ugly. He suggested that Dean and perhaps Rep. Peter Welch, D-Vt., could pull the candidates together and figure out the best possible course.
"This is real big turning point," he said.
— Terri Hallenbeck
The call to the bullpen
It’s a powerful thing when people call and suggest you should run for any office, let alone governor, as a number of Vermont politicians have discovered in recent days.
"It certainly is flattering," said Sen. Phil Scott, R-Washington, said he’s had calls suggesting he run for governor or lieutenant governor.
Scott said he is considering it, particularly running for lieutenant governor. On the governor front, he was candid: "I think there’s many more qualified people than myself."
As Scott thought about it, there was another, unique reason being governor might not be a good fit for him. Governors are driven around the state by a trooper and Scott said he likes driving too much to consider giving that up. Not to mention, Scott said, that officials at Thunder Road, where he drives a race car Thursday nights, would never let him sit in the passenger seat for their circuits around the track.
— Terri Hallenbeck
People won’t remember in November — 2010
The consensus among political party officials is that same-sex marriage — which becomes legal today — won’t be an issue in the 2010 election.
No big backlash as in 2000 when opponents of civil union ousted some lawmakers over their votes. "I don’t see it as an overarching issue," said Republican Party Chairman Rob Roper. Judy Bevans, Democratic Party chairwoman, agreed, as did Morgan Daybell, executive director of the Vermont Progressive Party.
"People have a year to get used to it and people wanted it," Bevans said of allowing same-sex marriage. "I think we have moved beyond being challenged on it. We have real problems to solve."
Daybell listed the issues he expects will the front-burner issues for voters — health care, the future of Vermont Yankee and the economy. "Same-sex marriage is going to be eclipsed by those issues."
Roper predicted same-sex marriage would become an issue only in a handful of legislative races if candidates received significant out-of-state money contributions.
— Nancy Remsen
In case you missed it
Free Press photographer Glenn Russell shot video of our interview with Gov. Jim Douglas the day he announced he would not seek re-election.
Nationally speaking: Gov. Jim Douglas’ announcement Thursday that he would not seek re-election set of a flurry of political buzz nationally among those who track states and who controls what some refer to as "the governor’s mansion," though Vermont has no mansion.
CQ Politics is among those that immediately changed its rating of the state to "Leans Democratic" from "Leans Republican." CQ Politics said Republican Lt. Gov. Brian Dubie has proven he can win, "But he also has clashed with Democratic state legislators over his conservative line on law-and-order and social issues — views that could provide ammunition for the opposition in the contest for the much higher-profile governor’s office in strongly Democratic-trending Vermont."
— Terri Hallenbeck
Roar of the crowd
"If Dubie runs, I don't think he will have as difficult a time as CQ politics imagines in this "heavily democratic" state," said politicaljunkie, responding to CQ Politics’ assessment. "If Vermont voters really perceived Dubie as that different from Douglas or some kind of extreme conservative, he would have undoubtedly faced many more defections."
Campaign stimulus plan
Gov. Jim Douglas has done his part to stimulate the economy in Vermont with his announced retirement from political office. Think of all the staff, rented offices, phone lines and placards for the many politicians eying the opportunities from the changed political landscape in 2010.
OK, the pack will shrink so the stimulus may be short-lived. Still, some political hopefuls are hiring for what they hope is the long haul — from now to at least September, 2010.
Democrat Doug Racine, who was in the race for governor whether or not Douglas was the Republican candidate, has now hired his third campaign aide.
Amy Shollenberger, who comes to the campaign with a decade of grassroots organizing and political experience, becomes Racine’s field director. "I’m responsible for getting people engaged," the 38-year-old Montpelier resident said. She will recruit volunteers and supporters. "Basically I ask people to do stuff to help get Doug elected."
Shollenberger wrapped up her work as director of Rural Vermont earlier this summer, so this opportunity came along at the perfect time, she said.
Democrat Deb Markowitz, who got serious about her run for governor last winter, is interviewing to find a campaign manager. She is conducting a nationwide search.
A staffer she hired to get her campaign and fund raising launched has moved on to pursue other career options as expected. He was never a long-term hire, Markowitz said. She has another paid campaign aide.
Democrat Susan Bartlett, the last of the three to declare her intentions, said she’s still relying on volunteers.
— Nancy Remsen
VPIRG counterattacks on health reform
The Vermont Public Interest Research Group doesn’t want Vermonters to feel left out of the national health care battle — so it has launched a series of television advertisements in support of comprehensive reform. Radio ads may soon follow.
Paul Burns, VPIRG’s executive director, said though Vermont’s Congressional delegation strongly supports reform, "We want them to be champions of the very best bill we can get." In other words Burns wants Vermonters to tell Rep. Peter Welch and Senators Patrick Leahy and Bernie Sanders to hold tight to the public health insurance option rather than throw it overboard in a seemingly futile attempt to win Republican support for a health reform bill.
In his 30-second spot — one of three VPIRG is airing — Burns shoots a dart at Gov. Jim Douglas, too.
"Some angry mobs, insurance industry lobbyists and our own Gov. Jim Douglas are opposing the public plan option that will keep costs down and give Vermonters more choice," Burns states on air.
Burns said he objects to Douglas using his new political weight as chairman of the National Governors Association to promote a position that differs from that of a majority of Vermonters. Burns urges Vermonters to let Douglas know he’s not speaking for them.
— Nancy Remsen
Quote to note:
Gov. Jim Douglas, announcing he wouldn’t run for re-election in 2010.
"But as any farmer knows, after many years — working sun up to sun down, seven days a week — there comes a time to turn over the reins to fresh arms. For me, that time is approaching. After 36 years as a public servant, 28 of those in statewide office, what will be eight years as governor — and through 15 statewide elections — I will have held center stage long enough for any leader. I will not seek another term as governor of Vermont."
As you read in today's Free Press, Sen. Ed Flanagan is no longer sure if he's running for lieutenant governor. He says he realized it was too early and he'll make a decision after the next legislative session, which ends in May.
Flanagan, of course, has reasons to reconsider. He has been accused of inappropriate behavior in the men's fitness center of the Burlington YMCA. He denies the allegations, though he says that as a result of the brain injury he suffered in a near-fatal 2005 car accident he has found his "discretionary capabilities" are off-kilter.
I spoke to many of his Senate colleagues yesterday to see whether they thought he could continue as a senator or as a lt. gov. candidate _ several of them in person at a legislative conference in Burlington and others on the phone. No question, the topic was the buzz among members, but speaking publicly about it was not so easy. Every one of them winced when I mentioned the topic. Understandably so. The thing is complicated, sensitive, and who wants to have their name attached to it in print?
Give credit then to those who were willing to speak and help put an important question into perspective. Not all were. Sen. Tim Ashe, D/P-Burlington, asked if he could think about it and call me back. I'm still waiting. Lt. Gov. Brian Dubie, who presides over the Senate, wanted to check first with legal counsel to see what the presiding officer's role might be. Not a bad thing to know, but does that preclude making any comment?
